Railway car truck



May 8, 1934.

K. M. HAMILTON 1,957,834

RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed May 25. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 8, 1934. K, M, HAMILTON 1,957,834

RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed May 23,. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 8, 1934 RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Karl M. Hamilton, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The v Bettendorf Company, Bettendorf, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application May 23, 1929, Serial No. 365,278

2 Claims.

This invention relates to railway car trucks.

An object of the invention is to provide a railway car truck having compression, tension, guide column and spring seat members, arranged to dey fine a window opening smaller at the bottom than at the top, to reduce the beam effect of the spring seat, and wherein a bolster is provided for endwise insertion between the upper portions of the guide columns, said bolster and side frame havj ing inter-engaging removable retaining means for limiting endwise movement of the bolster while permitting the required vertical movement of the same.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a truck construction of the character indicated wherein a detachable key is utilized for maintaining the bolster against longitudinal movement with respect to each side frame, and means provided for preventing withdrawal of the key when the bolster is in operative position with respect to the side frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bolster having guideways for the reception of a key in conjunction with key-retaining means upon the side frame which permit application and retraction of the key with reference to the bolster in one position, and which restrain detachment of the key when the bolster is in operative position with reference to the side frame.

i Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a side frame and bolster construction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, broken, perspective view of one end of the bolster forming part of the invention.

The drawings illustrate only one side portion of the truck contemplated by the invention, including one side frame, and co-operating end portions of the bolster and spring plank, but it will be understood that the opposite side of the truck is of the same construction as that shown in the drawings.

The side frame utilized in connection with the invention preferably includes a compression g member 10 and a tension member 11, which converge at their ends and are connected to the journal boxes 12-12. Guide columns 13-13 are provided extending between the compression and tension members, said guide columns being spaced apart between the upper ends thereof, a distance corresponding to the width of the bolster to be used, and providing the bolster guide faces 14-14. The lower ends of the guide columns are offset inwardly toward each other, as indicated at 15-15, the offsets being confined substantially to the longitudinal center of the side frame, the offset portions merging into the spring seat 16. The portions 17-17 are disposed transversely of the said frame and are curved in each instance toward the journal boxes. By this construction, the window opening in the side frame is of greater width between the top portions of the guide columns than between the bottom portions of the guide columns, this resulting in a decrease in the length of the spring seat and a consequent diminution of the undesirable beam effect afforded by the ordinary spring seat, all resulting in greatly increased strength in the side frame.

Disposed upon the spring seat is a cluster of springs, preferably of standard size, and preferably arranged in three longitudinally extending rows 18-19 and 20, the central row 19 being disposed between the offset portions 15-15 of the columns. The remaining rows of springs, in the embodiment illustrated, each consists of two springs spaced apart a greater distance than the springs of the central row 19, as permitted by the greater length of the spring seat 16 outwardly at each side of the offet portions 15--15 of the guide columns; if desired, the rows 18 and 20 may consist of three springs instead of two. By reason of the formation of the spring seat and the disposition of the springs, while the side frame is strengthened due to the diminution of the distance between the lower ends of the guide columns, nevertheless, increased spring capacity is provided.

In View of the fact that the lower ends of the guide columns are spaced apart a less distance than the upper portions thereof and because it is desirable to use a full width bolster, it is necv essary to insert the bolster endwise between the upper portions of the guide columns. A particular type of bolster for this purpose is indicated by the reference character 21 and preferably is of hollow construction having side walls 22-22, and top and bottom walls 23 and 24. A reinforcing partition 25 also may be provided for adding strength to the bolster. The side walls 22-22 provide bearing faces 26 which are adapted to engage the guide faces 14-14 of the guide columns. At the rear of the guide faces 26 are the usual lugs 27-27 which bear against the inner surfaces of the guide columns. The walls 22-22 and the partition 25 are provided with apertures 28-28 for the reception of the retaining key 29 inserted therethrough, said key when in position bearing upon the outer side faces 30-30 of the guide columns as best shown in Figure 3, thereby maintaining the bolster against retraction from the side frame.

Novel means are provided for maintaining the key 29 in operative position when the bolster is in operative position, and for permitting the insertion and retraction of the key in applying or removing the bolster with reference to the side frame. Sais means consist in providing vertically disposed integral ribs or anges 31--31 along the outer faces of the guide columns, said anges or ribs projecting transversely outwardly from the side frame and in line with the opposite ends of the key 29 when the parts are in operative position. The retaining anges 31-31 extend downwardly somewhat below the tops of the springs as indicated at 32, and at their upper ends terminate short of the compression member 10 as indicated at 33, the construction being such that when the bolster end is elevated the ends of the key 29 are disposed somewhat above the ends 33 of the retaining ilanges so that the key may be slid longitudinally out of the recesses 28, and the bolster retracted. In applying the bolster, the end of the same is first inserted between the upper portions of the guide columns in such position that the slots 23-28 are slightly above the upper ends 33-33 of the flanges, permitting the key 29 to be re-inserted and when the bolster end is lowered to its normal position resting upon the springs, the ends of the key or bar 29 slide between the iianges 31--31 and engage the same in such manner that the key cannot be accidentally removed, the parts in this position permitting the required up and down movement of the bolster end.

By the above described arrangement, it is pointed out that a truck is provided wherein the side frames are of peculiar construction with the bolster opening in each narrower at the bottom than at the top, reducing the length of the spring seat and provision made for accommodating an increased spread of spring bearing surface. In conjunction with this construction, the peculiar type of bolster is provided which is of a width to engage the guide faces of the columns in the normal manner and wherein the retaining means for preventing longitudinal movement of the bolster are of a detachable nature and are held in position by integral parts of the truck side frame.

While I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:-

1. A side frame of the character described, comprising compression, tension, guide column and spring seat members, said guide column members being offset at their lower portionsbetween the side edges thereof to reduce the width of the window opening and the length of the spring seat, said guide columns being provided with bolster retaining flanges outstanding laterally from said columns and extending from the offset portions upwardly toward the compression member.

2. In a railway car truck the combination of a side frame comprising compression, tension, guide column and spring seat members, said guide column members being onset at their lower portions between the side edges thereof, to reduce the width of the window opening and the length of the spring seat, said guide columns being provided with bolster retaining flanges outstanding laterally from said columns and extending from the offset portions upwardly toward the compression member, a bolster member insertable between the columns above the offset portions thereof, and a removable key in the bolster cooperating with said retaining ilanges on the columns to maintain said removable key in position when the bolster is in operative relation to the side frame, said iianges operating to release said key for removal when the bolster is elevated from operative position between the columns.

KARL M. HAMILTON. 

